Military medics line up to board a PLA Air Force transport aircraft at Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu, Sichuan province, heading for Wuhan, Hubei province, early on Thursday. (LIU CHANG / FOR CHINA DAILY)

Eleven transport aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, including six large, domestically developed Y-20 planes, headed a massive operation to send 1,400 medics and supplies from seven cities to Wuhan, Hubei province, on Thursday.

Military medics arrive at Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan on Thursday. (CHEN XIAODONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)

Airmen load medical supplies on a transport aircraft at Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu. (LIU CHANG / FOR CHINA DAILY)

Two Il-76 transport aircraft arrive at Tianhe International Airport on Thursday. (SHAO ZIYANG / FOR CHINA DAILY)

Eleven PLA Air Force transport aircraft arrive at Tianhe International Airport on Thursday during the largest Air Force mission to support a civilian operation. (CHEN XIAODONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)

Workers load medical supplies on a Y-20 transport aircraft at Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu on Thursday morning. (LIU CHANG / FOR CHINA DAILY)